As Suárez is speaking, he pinches Evra’s left forearm. As referee Andre Marriner stops play, Suárez uses the term “negro” to Evra again, prompting an angry reaction from Evra, who tells Marriner he has been racially abused.

Marriner tries to calm the situation, but as the players walk away, Suárez puts his hand on the back of Evra’s head and the defender knocks his arm away.

Marriner intervenes again; Evra says he does not want Suárez to touch him, prompting the Uruguayan to say: “Why, black?”

The booking

An exchange between Dirk Kuyt and Evra ends with the Frenchman shoving the Liverpool striker in the chest. He is booked by Marriner and warned to calm down by Ryan Giggs. Evra tells Giggs he has been racially abused.

The United dressing room

Evra is visibly agitated as he returns to the United dressing room, with four players – Nani, Antonio Valencia, Javier Hernández and Anderson – all testifying that Evra claimed Suárez had told him he would not talk to him because he was black. Valencia and Anderson tell Evra to speak to Sir Alex Ferguson.

The referee’s room

Ferguson goes to the referee’s room with Evra. He tells Marriner that “Evra has been called a nigger by one of the Liverpool players”. Evra offers his account and Ferguson says United want to make a formal complaint. Marriner, having asked Phil Dowd, the fourth official, to make notes of the exchange, assures him he will include the incident in his official report when he files it to the Football Association.

The tunnel

Ray Haughan, Liverpool’s team administration manager, overhears the conversation in the referee’s room while waiting in the tunnel and goes to tell Liverpool’s team management. Haughan tells Damien Comolli and Kenny Dalglish that Ferguson has alleged Suárez called Evra “a nigger five times”.

The Liverpool dressing room

Comolli, a fluent Spanish speaker, talks to Suárez to ascertain his version of events. Suárez says nothing untoward has happened, but admits using the term “negro” in response to Evra saying: “Don’t touch me, South American”. Comolli relates Suárez’s remarks to Dalglish before Dowd arrives to ask Dalglish and Suárez to come to the referee’s room.

The referee’s room

Dalglish arrives to see Marriner and Dowd without Suárez. Marriner tells him the substance of Evra’s allegations and warns that a formal compliant has been made, before Dalglish leaves.

A few minutes later, Comolli arrives in the referee’s room and relates his conversation with Suárez. Dowd asks Comolli to spell “Tu es negro” - “You are black”. Comolli claims there has been a mistranslation and that Suárez did not use the term 'nigger’.

The interview

Evra is asked for an interview by a French journalist working for Canal+. Before the interview begins, the journalist asks Evra why he is upset; the defender explains he has been racially abused. The journalist interviews Evra, who says he was abused “10 times”.

The report

Marriner writes up his match report that evening, including an Extraordinary Incident Report Form where he details the allegations against Suárez, using Dowd’s handwritten notes, which he later throws away.

The defence

Suárez, having become aware of Evra’s allegations on French television, posts a message on his Facebook page, personal website and Twitter account, saying he is “upset by the accusations” and insisting that he has “always respected and respect everybody”.

The hearing

On Dec 20 the FA concludes a seven-day hearing, handing Suárez an eight-match ban and a £40,000 fine for racially abusing Evra.

The findings

On Dec 31, the FA releases the contents of their findings in a 115-page report.

In it the FA says that Suárez has "damaged the image of English football around the world". The FA, while finding Evra to be a credible witness, declares that Suárez's evidence is unreliable and inconsistent with the video footage.

The panel concludes that "Suarez's use of the term [negro] was not intended as an attempt at conciliation or to establish rapport; neither was it meant in a conciliatory and friendly way."

Suárez was also warns that two similar offences in the future could lead to "a permanent suspension".

The ban

Suárez accepts an eight-match suspension prior to the game against Manchester City on Jan 3rd claiming he would serve his ban with the “resignation of someone who hasn’t done anything wrong”.

Liverpool are scathing of the three-man independent commission which finds Suárez guilty of abusing Evra suggesting, in a statement issued with the full support of the club’s American owners, that the panel was “highly subjective” in its verdict.

“It is our strongly held conviction that the Football Association and the panel it selected constructed a highly subjective case against Luis Suárez based on an accusation that was ­ ultimately unsubstantiated,” the club said.

The return

Suárez returns to action in the 0-0 draw against Tottenham on Feb 6.

The handshake...or lack of

Suarez opting not to shake Evra's hand as the players conducted their traditional pre-match greeting when Liverpool travelled to Old Trafford - the Uruguayan's first start since serving an eight-match ban.

The fall out

Suarez's actions prompted Sir Alex Ferguson to brand Suarez a “disgrace to Liverpool” before urging the club to “get rid” of him. After the match, Kenny Dalglish claimed he “didn’t know” Suárez had refused Evra’s handshake before becoming embroiled in a feud with Sky Sports presenter Geoff Shreeves.

The apologies

Suarez issued an apology for his "mistake" in not shaking Evra's hand. His statement was followed by Liverpool managing director Ian Ayre saying the club was misled by Suarez and criticised the Uruguayan for failing to shake the hand of Evra.

Dalglish then said sorry for his conduct on TV before Manchester United published a statement on their site accepting Liverpool's apology.